CRN/AANP/AANPF initiative emphasizes role of NPs in health care

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday announced plans for a joint education effort with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation to help raise the level of awareness within the supplement industry and with consumers about the valuable role of nurse practitioners in the quest for good health.

“As this country’s healthcare needs continue to evolve, consumers are looking for ways to be proactive with their health, and more and more consumers may find themselves turning to a nurse practitioner,” stated Steve Mister, CRN president and CEO. “We know from research from the ‘Life…supplemented’ 'Healthcare Professionals Impact Study' that nurse practitioners both personally use and professionally recommend dietary supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle. These factors make it important for our industry to support the professional organization for nurse practitioners and for us to work with them to further educate the public about nurse practitioners.”

As part of the CRN/AANP/AANPF initiative, CRN will add information to its website, including fact sheets and press releases, providing consumers with more information about nurse practitioners and the services they offer. A recent survey conducted by AANP found that most consumers had direct contact or knew someone who had direct contact with a nurse practitioner, yet most were still unaware of the services provided. “Our goal will be to work with AANP and AANPF as part of its own outreach efforts to elevate awareness of nurse practitioners and the important healthcare services they provide consumers,” Mister said. “We want consumers to know nurse practitioners can be a trusted source of health information.”

According to survey results from the 2009 "Life…supplemented" "Healthcare Professionals Impact Study," 87% of nurse practitioners agreed that dietary supplements can play an important role in improving or maintaining the health of their patients. Additionally, 100% of nurse practitioners surveyed reported having a conversation about supplements with a patient, including 55% who indicated that they had initiated the conversation.

“This tells us nurse practitioners are playing an active, important role with consumers,” Mister noted. “As consumers seek ways to improve their overall health, they will likely look to their nurse practitioners to help determine which supplements are right for them. We appreciate that nurse practitioners are prepared to engage their patients in meaningful dialogue on the subject of being healthy, and because of that, we expect these healthcare providers will continue to take an increasingly vital and visible role in modern medicine.”

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